IDRiM 2017 Conference
Dimensions of Disaster Risk Reduction and Societal Resilience in a Complex World
Dates: 23-25 August 2017
Venue: Harpa, Reykjavik, Iceland
The 8th Conference of the International Society for Integrated Disaster Risk Management(IDRiM 2017) will be hosted by the University of Iceland, NORDRESS – Nordic Centre ofExcellence on Resilience and Societal Security, in cooperation with the Disaster
Prevention Research Institute (DPRI, Japan), and the International Institute for Applied
Systems Analysis (IIASA, Austria). The theme of the conference is “Dimensions of DisasterRisk Reduction and Societal Resilience in a Complex World”

Overview
IDRiM 2017 adopts an interdisciplinary approach, and encourages contributions fromall realms of natural, social, health, humanitarian, engineering, and other sciences, topromote understanding of how best to manage the risk that natural hazards pose tosocieties. Also, it aims to provide a forum for fruitful exchange of expertise and opinions
on every aspect of risk management. The programme will be varied, from key note
lectures and expert panel discussions to a wide selection of oral and poster
presentations on various topics.
Furthermore, the conference provides a special opportunity to young scientists (e.g.
graduate students and postdoctoral researchers) through the "Young Scientists Session(YSS)”, where all presenters are expected to give both an oral presentation and poster
presentation, and get feed-back from participants of the conference. All YSS
presentations participate in the YSS Best Presentation Competition.

In three days you will have the choice to attend 29 oral sessions, with up to 6
presentations each, 5 plenary invited lectures, plenary panel discussions, and poster
sessions. We would like to point out the three special YSS sessions where young
scientists present their work both with short oral introductions and posters. All YSSpresenters participate in the YSS Best Presentation Competition. We are all on the juryand I urge you to take part and evaluate our young colleagues´ presentations andprovide them with useful comments and feedback.
Last but not least, we have invited Iceland´s leading TV news editor, Ms. ÞóraArnórsdóttir, to conduct plenary interviews with selected experts on different aspects
of disasters and resilience. This is a new feature in the IDRiM conference program that
we are proud to introduce.
On Thursday afternoon a field trip is arranged that traverses an area prone to a varietyof natural hazards, including earthquakes, river/ocean/glacial outburst floods, andvolcanic eruptions. We will travel in 3 buses, each guided by an expert in social andphysical geography, geology and natural disasters.
This short version of the program is the only printed material offered, but online you willfind a full pdf version of the program, listing all authors, should you wish to print that.
Also there is an interactive electronic version, which includes all abstracts.
Here is a preliminary list of session topics :1. Understanding and Monitoring natural hazard risk
 Natural hazard modelling and forecasting Hazard monitoring and the use of smart technology
 Climate change and natural hazards
 Natural hazard vulnerability of different populations – e.g. urban, rural, remote,young, aging, transient and special needs populations
 Mental and physical health related impacts of natural disasters
2. Risk and resilience Risk governance (risk management procedures) Land use, land use planning and natural hazards
 Economics of disasters
 Insurance for enhancing community resilience Infrastructure resilience Child-centred disaster risk reduction programs and strategies
 Community preparedness and response to disasters
 Post disaster recovery
 Recovery and psycho-social support Migration in anticipation of and following disasters
 Natech risks and critical infrastructure protection
3. Community engagement and communication
 Risk communication
 Media influence on public perception and response Best practice engagement strategies
 Engaging with the disengaged
4. Presentation for Young Scientists Session
 TBA

Invited Plenary Lectures:-John Richardson, Australian Red Cross, Australia“More than three liters of water – Helping people prepare forthetrue consequencesof disasters”-Magnú Tumi Guðmundsson, Institute of Earth Science, University of Iceland“Volcanic hazards in Iceland, past, present and prospects for the future”-Ortwin Renn, IASS, Potsdam, Germany“Coping with complex risk: New challenges for risk governance”-Denis Mileti, University of Colorado Boulder, USA“Reducing delays in public warnings”-Mahesh Prakash, CSIRO Data61, Australia“Integrated modelling and analytics of natural hazards: A bushfire perspective”

Plenary interview by Ms. Póra Arnórsdottir[How can we prepare ourselves for disaster?]Atle Dyregrov, John Richardson, Gunhild Setten[Science for Resilience]
Adam Rose, Hirokazu Tatano, Andrew Collins

Field Trip on Thursday, 24 August 2017
The conference organizers feel that it is appropriate to offer a conference tour thattraverses an area prone to a variety of natural hazards, including earthquakes,river/ocean/glacial outburst floods, and volcanic eruptions. All this is found in thesouthern region of Iceland - ranging south-eastward from Reykjavík through thegeothermal village of Hveragerði, close to the epicenter of the 2008 earthquake thatcaused major material damage and resulted in the surfacing of new geothermal springsin the village. We continue on to Selfoss, a village on the banks of the glacial river Ölfusá,a cause of frequent floods. Further east, in the village Hvolsvöllur, that lies in the vicinityof Eyjafjallajökull, we will meet civil protection and emergency management authorities
and learn about their work and challenges. On the way home we will enjoy a rustic local
lobster dinner in the coastal village Stokkseyri, neatly protected by a dike from the ocean
storms that can be quite ferocious in winter. At this time of year, however, we hope fora calm evening. Nevertheless, you should bring warm clothes, a rain jacket and sturdy
shoes!
We will travel in 3 buses, each guided by an expert in social/physical geography; geology;
and/or natural hazards: Professor Guðrún Gísladóttir, Dr. Deanne Bird and Dr. ÞorsteinnSæmundsson.
Departure from Harpa at 14:00 sharp! Arrival back to Reykjavík, Harpa, approx. 23:00.

Organizing Committees
Local Organizing CommitteeGuðrún Pétursdóttir
Guðrún Gísladóttir
Harpa Dís Jónsdóttir
Ingibjörg Lilja Ómarsdóttir
Scientific Program CommitteeGuðrún Pétursdóttir
Guðrún Gísladóttir
Ana Maria Cruz
Adam Rose
Norio Okada
Hirokazu Tatano
Young Scientists Sessions Board
Muneta Yokomatsu
Yoko Matsuda
Uta Reichardt
Asthildur Elva Bernhardsdottir

Important dates:
Opening of abstract submission

15 November 2016

Deadline of abstract submission

15 February 2017

Notification of abstracts

15 March 2017

Early bird registration

15 January 2017

General registration

15 May 2017

Achievement and Results
The conference met our expectations and proved to be very successful, with 216
participants from 27 countries, thereof 43 from Japan.

The program consisted of 29 oral sessions each with up to 6 presentations; 5 plenary
invited lectures; panel discussions; and poster sessions. Special oral and poster
sessions were organized for young scientists.
The program was very varied and addressed all significant aspects of natural disasterrisk reduction worldwide (see Conference Program attached). The speakers included
world renowned experts in the various fields of disaster management, from academia
to administrators, NGO´s, and field workers. This resulted in lively and fruitful
discussions across disciplines and borders.

IDRiM2017 Participants after presentations on emergency management of volcanic
eruptions and floods by the District Commissioners of Police at Hvolsvöllur in SouthIceland.
More photos : 2017 Conference Gallery